- BGG rank
- BGG #4,235
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Quiddler
- 1–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,915
- BGG rating
- 6.5
SET
1988
Rules assistance for SET
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–20 players
- 30 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.7/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for SET
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
SET is a board game released in 1988 for 1–20 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Marsha J. Falco and its main mechanics are Real-Time, Pattern Recognition, and Speed Matching.
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About the game
In SET, each card contains 1-3 objects, with all of the objects on a card having the same color, shape and shading, e.g., two purple shaded ovals. Colors, shapes, and shadings come in three different types: green, purple and red; oval, diamond and squiggle; and solid, shaded and outlined. All players compete simultaneously and try to claim sets of cards in a single pass through the deck. A set consists of three cards that are either all alike or all different in each attribute. For example, if all three cards have the same number of objects, but three different shapes, shadings, and colors, then those cards are a set; if two of the cards have a common attribute that is not shared by the third, they are not a set. To play, one person takes the deck and lays out twelve cards face up. The first person to spot a set collects those three cards; if the player was mistaken, then this player cannot claim a set until after another player has done so. After someone has claimed a set, the cardholder lays out three more cards. (If all players agree that no sets can be claimed, then the cardholder lays out three more cards. These cards aren't replaced after someone claims a set.) Whoever claims the most sets wins!
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Kaissa Chess & Games
- Enigma (Bergsala Enigma)
- Broadway Toys LTD
- Galápagos Jogos
- Hobby Japan
- Korea Boardgames
- AMIGO
- Copag Cards (Copag)
- Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
- PlayMonster
- F.X. Schmid
- Ravensburger AG
- G3
- 999 Games
- Nordic Games ehf
- Goliath Games
- Gigamic
- Esdevium
- Lifestyle Boardgames Ltd
- HomoLudicus
- Brain Games
- Set Enterprises, Inc.
- TWOPLUS Games
- Compaya.hu: Gamer Café Kft.
- CreativaMente
Questions and answers
SET supports 1–20 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for SET is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists SET for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
SET has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
SET belongs to these categories: Card Game and Puzzle. Its main mechanics are Real-Time, Pattern Recognition, and Speed Matching. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of SET are: Marsha J. Falco. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists SET as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.